November - December 2003

Pesticide Potpourri

  • UF/IFAS extension has recently become aware of potential problems (carry-over and potential weed resistance) from the use of Cadre® herbicide (imazapic) in peanut/cotton rotation schemes. There is an 18-moth plant back restriction for cotton, and some growers have been experimenting to determine if a reduced rate of the material will still provide adequate weed control while reducing the potential for cotton phytotoxicity. This “experimentation” may have two drawbacks. If weed control fails, the user has no legal recourse. Additionally, a reduced rate of herbicide favors the development of herbicide-resistant weeds. (UF/IFAS, FDACS, FFB email, November, 2003).
  • The Sustainable Agricultural Network and the Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas program have recently released several new publications. “Building a Sustainable Business: A Guide to Developing a Business Plan for Farms and Rural Businesses,” “Opportunities in Agriculture: Transitioning to Organic Production,” and Organic Crops/Livestock Workbooks. Contact 614 306-6422 for the first two publications and 800 346-9140 for the workbooks. (SARE letter, November, 2003). 
  • wpdoc12.gifThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has announced the availability of a 90-minute video entitled “Managing Rodents and Mosquitoes through Integrated Pest Management.” The video and associated script are available for downloading at: www.phppo.cdc.gov/phtn/webcast/ipm/default.asp#webcast. (Pesticide & Toxic Chemical News, 11/10/03).
  • On November 6, DuPont announced the purchase of Griffin L.L.C. and its crop protection facilities. A spokesman for DuPont Crop Protection said the acquisition is consistent with efforts to grow the company's global specialty market. (CropLife America Spotlight, 11/7/03).
  • On October 30, Apollo Management, L .P., a private investment firm, announced a definitive agreement to purchase United Agri Products N.A., a wholly owned subsidiary of ConAgra Foods. (CropLife America Spotlight, 11/7/03).
  • In the longest-running patent battle in the history of plant biotechnology, German firm Bayer was awarded exclusive patent rights on a plant parasite technology developed by the Max Planck Society. In a statement, Bayer said the technology, which is the basis for all genetically modified plant production, is based on the plant parasite Agrobacterium, which can cause tumor development on plants. It allows researchers to exploit the natural genetic-engineering capacities of the bacteria and turn these into a basic tool for the production of transgenic plants. Monsanto developed a similar technology, but the U.S. Patent Office recently decided Monsanto's patent interfered with that of the Max Planck Society. The Max Planck Society invented the technology 20 years ago, but the European Patent Office only issued a patent on it in November, which highlights the controversy surrounding the technology and Europe's hesitance to accept such research developments. (Dow Jones Newswire, 11/27/03).
  • The pesticide community now has access to a tool to help inform the public of product collection and disposal opportunities. Earth 911 is a public-private partnership that has launched a web site with comprehensive information on disposal and recycling activities across the country. The site, www.earth911.org/master.asp, offers information on approximately 375,000 communities, which users can access by entering a zip code. (Pesticide & Toxic Chemical News, 10/27/03).
  • ole7.gifTransgenic tobacco plants have successfully synthesized spider silk, a development that could allow industrial-scale production of synthetic spider silk that's as strong as the real stuff. Researchers from the Institute of General Genetics in Moscow, Russia are seeking ways to produce the silk in industrial quantity because of its strength and toughness. The name of the plant-produced silk is spidroin. Five times stronger than steel and more elastic than Kevlar®, spider silk could be used for a variety of applications, from medical sutures to space stations. Spider silk is so desirable that scientists have spent decades trying to find a way to synthesize it. (Betterhumans via Agnet, 11/26/03).
  • wpdoc13.gifOn November 21, the EPA announced the settlement of cases involving the misuse of pesticide at eight plantations used for hunting quail in southern Georgia. A multi-agency investigation discovered the illegal practice of injecting chicken eggs with the insecticide Furadan® (carbofuran) in order to poison the predators of quail and quail eggs. Under the terms of the settlements, the plantations certified that any use of Furadan® for predator control on their properties had ceased, and they will pay a combined civil penalty of $359,750. The violations were initially detected in 1998 and 1999 by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GDNR) and investigated by the U.S. EPA, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, GDNR, and the Georgia Department of Agriculture. The eight plantations involved in the settlements are: Kolomoki L.L.C. and John Ray Stout; Albermarle Plantation and Richard Roger Thomas; Nochaway Plantation and John L. Simms; Pinebloom Plantation; Ecila Plantation and Wiley Jordan; J.W. Willis Property; Pineland Plantation; and Nonami Plantation. (USEPA Release, 11/21/03 via Agnet).
  • wpdoc14.gifChinese authorities have arrested a man who allegedly dumped a pint of pesticide into a water reservoir to boost sales of water purifiers. Quoting a local newspaper, the BBC said that no one died, but that 64 people were sickened and 42 of them had to receive hospital treatment. It was unclear as to whether the filters he sold would have removed the pesticide. (Pesticide & Toxic Chemical News, 10/13/03).
  • wpdoc15.gifElevated levels of fumonisin, a cancer-causing natural fungal toxin, were found in every organic cornmeal product tested by the UK's Food Standards Agency, notes a report by the Hudson Institute. The FSA instituted a countrywide recall of six contaminated products in September. Five were grown and processed in UK and Denmark and one in France. (CropLife America Spotlight, 11/21/03).

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